Five Tips to Stop Smoking

Are you sick and tired of being told to "just stop"? Too bad it's not that easy. But there are both psychological issues and psychological changes that play a role in any effort to stop smoking.

It Takes Commitment

The commitment to quit has to be part of any stop smoking program. Typically only 6% will succeed in quitting during their first attempt. I don't say this to discourage you, but so you know what you are up against.

That's why finding the willpower to make the decision a permanent thing is the key to success.

We all make small choices in different areas of life. Right now I'm trying to lose 10 pounds by eating better and smarter. It's not a matter of snapping my mental fingers and changing my course of action, though. It's hard! More thought and effort is needed to succeed. It is those twin helpers that are the link between willpower and achievement, for losing weight or for giving up cigarettes.

One of the major factors as to why people smoke is stress. And we all know that stress keeps on coming year after year. Something happens to us and we feel stress and by habit we reach for a cigarette to restore calm.

This is important to remember: It is possible to interrupt that response at several points. Here are three tips for how to do that.

1. Begin slowly. Search for those times when reaching for a cigarette is just down to habit. Is the first thing you do in the morning is reach for a cigarette? If this is the case, then put them out of the way and exert willpower so as not to pick one up.

2. Wait longer after dinner to smoke a cigarette. Each day wait longer and longer. It is small victories like these that will reduce the quantity of cigarettes that you smoke every day and strengthen your willpower.

3. As your control over impulses is better gained, your self-confidence will grow. You will feel in control. This will reinforce the feeling of willpower, and you can direct events rather than them directing you.

4. The next thing to look at is the long term plan. Choose a day to stop smoking. Estimate what date you will run out of cigarettes. Remind yourself of the high price of cigarettes, not only in dollars but also in your health, and prevent yourself from buying anymore.

5. The first two weeks will be hard, which will make the largest demands on your willpower. The cravings will also be at their strongest during this time. The chemical changes that take place in your body will adjust to lower levels of dopamine, therefore flushing smoke ingredient-created compounds out of your body which will create an urge to resume. Don't give in. You are on your way to being free from cigarettes.

Stick to your plan. Find other, healthier activities to do. Figure out ways to de-stress your life. Learn how to deal with stress without getting stressed.

It is possible to relax without a cigarette, and your job is to find out how. In the meantime, as you try to quit smoking you might need a stop smoking aid such as a nicotine patch, gum, or inhaler. Ask your doctor what would be best for you.

Tags: Stop Smoking Tips